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United States Patent |
5,080,386
|
Lazar
|
January 14, 1992
|
Self-aligning and self-connecting trailer hitch
Abstract
A ball and socket hitch between a towing vehicle and a towed trailer which
is self-aligning and self-connecting. The hitch ball is provided with an
underlying base supporting an upstanding housing having rearwardly
diverging walls which guide the tongue on the towed vehicle to align the
ball socket on the tongue with the hitch ball. A slide plate is
operatively associated with the base and oriented in a vertically inclined
position and has a bifurcated forward end engaging the hitch ball. The
slide plate combined with the housing walls guides and lifts the tongue of
the towed vehicle upwardly into overlying, aligned relation to the hitch
ball. The slide plate pivots to a generally horizontal position as the
ball socket on the tongue moves into overlying aligned relation to the
hitch ball and then drops downwardly towards the base plate to enable the
ball socket to drop downwardly onto and thus be connected with the hitch
ball. The slide plate, housing walls, base and hitch ball have a unique
relationship by which the slide plate will guide and lift the tongue and
ball socket upwardly as the towing vehicle moves rearwardly toward the
tongue of the towed vehicle to elevate the ball socket above the hitch
ball with the housing walls aligning the tongue and ball socket with the
hitch ball with the slide plate then automatically dropping downwardly to
enable gravity to move the ball socket downwardly onto the hitch ball.
Inventors:
|
Lazar; Joseph (306 Maple, Ziegler, IL 62999)
|
Appl. No.:
|
608288 |
Filed:
|
November 2, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: |
280/477; 280/511 |
Intern'l Class: |
B60D 001/06 |
Field of Search: |
280/477,504,511
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4417748 | Nov., 1983 | Dortch | 280/477.
|
4657275 | Apr., 1987 | Carroll | 280/477.
|
4903978 | Feb., 1990 | Schrum, III | 280/477.
|
Primary Examiner: Hill; Mitchell J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fleit, Jacobson, Cohn, Price, Holman & Stern
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A hitch for connecting a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle comprising a
hitch ball mounted on the rear of a towing vehicle and a ball socket
mounted on the front portion of a towed vehicle, an inclined plate
extending downwardly and rearwardly in an inclined plane from the hitch
ball, means supporting the plate in inclined position with the forward
edge portion being releasably supported by said hitch ball to form a ramp
engaged by the ball socket as the ball socket and ball approach each other
to lift the ball socket upwardly to a position overlying the ball with the
means supporting the forward edge of the inclined plate from the ball
enabling the plate to pivot toward a generally horizontal position and
release from the ball to enable the ball socket to automatically drop onto
the hitch ball thereby connecting the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle,
said towing vehicle including guide means extending vertically above the
hitch ball in spaced relation thereto for guiding the ball socket into
alignment with the hitch ball when the ball socket is lifted above the
hitch ball and moved toward the hitch ball thereby positioning the ball
socket in overlying, aligned relation to the hitch ball when the inclined
plate is pivoted to horizontal position and released to drop below the
hitch all.
2. The hitch as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a base
plate secured in place under the hitch ball, vertically disposed
upstanding walls on the forward portion of the base plate with two of the
walls extending in rearwardly diverging relation on opposite sides of the
hitch ball to guide the ball socket into alignment with the hitch ball.
3. The hitch as defined in claim 2 wherein said inclined plate and said
base plate include rearward edges having interengaging means which
prevents rearward and forward relative movement of the inclined plate in
relation to the base plate and preventing upward swinging movement of the
inclined plate toward a horizontal position when the ball socket is lifted
to a point above the hitch ball.
4. A hitch for connecting a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle comprising a
hitch ball mounted on the rear of a towing vehicle and a ball socket
mounted on the front portion of a towed vehicle, an inclined plate
extending downwardly and rearwardly in an inclined plane from the hitch
ball, means supporting the plate in inclined position with the forward
edge portion being releasably supported by said hitch ball to form a ramp
engaged by the ball socket as the ball socket and ball approach each other
to lift the ball socket upwardly to a position overlying the ball with the
means supporting forward edge of the inclined plate from the ball enabling
the plate to pivot toward a generally horizontal position and release from
the ball to enable the ball socket to automatically drop onto the hitch
ball thereby connecting the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle, said
towing vehicle including guide means extending vertically above the hitch
ball in spaced relation thereto for guiding the ball socket into alignment
with the hitch ball when the ball socket is lifted above the hitch ball
and moved toward the hitch ball thereby positioning the ball socket in
overlying, aligned relation to the hitch ball when the inclined plate is
pivoted to horizontal position and released to drop below the hitch ball,
said guide means including a base plate secured in placed under the hitch
ball, vertically disposed upstanding walls on the forward portion of the
base plate with two of the walls extending in rearwardly diverging
relation on opposite sides of the hitch ball to guide the ball socket into
alignment with the hitch ball, said inclined plate and said base plate
including rearward edges having interengaging means which prevents
rearward and forward relative movement of the inclined plate in relation
to the base plate and permitting upward swinging movement of the inclined
plate toward a horizontal position when the ball socket is lifted to a
point above the hitch ball, said means interconnecting the rearward edges
of the base plate and inclined plate including upwardly inclined tabs on
the base plate providing a forwardly facing surface to engage the rearward
edge of the inclined plate to prevent rearward movement of the rear edge
of the inclined plate in relation to the base plate and downwardly
extending inclined tabs on the inclined plate defining forwardly facing
surfaces engaging the rear edge of the base plate to prevent forward
movement of the rear edge of the inclined plate in relation to the base
plate.
5. The hitch as defined in claim 4 wherein said inclined plate includes a
bifurcated forward edge defined by a centrally disposed longitudinal notch
having side edges engaging opposed surfaces of the hitch ball when in
inclined position.
6. The hitch as defined in claim 5 wherein the forward portion of the
inclined plate includes curved leg portions with the forward most ends of
the leg portions curving upwardly to form cam surfaces engaged by the
forward edge of the ball socket when the ball socket moves into overlying
aligned relation to the hitch ball to pivot the rearward edge of the
inclined plate upwardly to release it from the base plate to enable
movement of the inclined plate to disengage the inclined plate from the
hitch ball as the inclined plate moves to horizontal position thereby
releasing the inclined plate from the hitch ball with gravity causing the
inclined plate to drop downwardly onto the base plate.
7. The hitch as defined in claim 6 wherein said inclined plate includes
magnetic means on the forward portion thereof to secure the inclined plate
on the upper surface of the base plate after the inclined plate has
released from the rearward edge of the base plate and the hitch ball for
storage of the inclined plate on the upper surface of the base plate.
8. The hitch as defined in claim 7 wherein said inclined plate includes
side edge notches, said diverging housing walls including inwardly
extending tabs on the rearward edge thereof for registry with the notches
as the inclined plate moves downwardly to engage the base plate with the
tabs serving as additional means to retain the inclined plate stored
against the upper surface of the base plate.
9. A self-aligning and self-connecting ball and socket hitch assembly
comprising a hitch ball and a ball socket, rearwardly diverging, upwardly
guide means associated with the hitch ball to guide the ball socket into
overlying registry with the hitch ball for connection therewith when the
socket drops onto the ball with the guide means enabling articulate
movement of the hitch ball and socket in angular relation to each other,
and an inclined slide plate associated with the hitch ball forming a
rearwardly facing inclined ramp engaged by the ball socket as the socket
moves towards the hitch ball to elevate the ball socket into overlying
relation to the hitch ball with the guide means aligning the socket with
the hitch ball, said inclined slide plate being movable to a generally
horizontal position by the ball socket when the socket moves up the ramp
into overlying, aligned relation to the ball, and means on the plate
engaging the ball and being released from the ball in response to
engagement by the socket to drop downwardly below the ball to enable the
ball socket to drop by gravity on the hitch ball thereby providing a
self-aligning and self-connecting hitch.
10. The ball and socket hitch assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said
guide means includes a bottom plate extending rearwardly of the ball, the
rearward edge of said bottom plate and the rearward edge of said inclined
slide plate including means preventing forward and rearward movement of
the rearward edge of the inclined slide plate when the inclined slide
plate is oriented in inclined position with the interengaging means being
released when the rearward edge of the inclined slide plate is pivoted
upwardly toward a horizontal position, the forward edge of said inclined
slide plate including a longitudinally extending notch having side edges
engaged with diametrically opposed surfaces on the hitch ball to support
the inclined slide plate in inclined position as the ball socket moves
upwardly along the upper surface of the inclined slide plate as the hitch
socket and the hitch ball move toward each other, the forward edge portion
of said inclined slide plate also including cam surfaces engaged by the
ball socket to pivot the inclined slide plate from its inclined position
to a generally horizontal position as the ball socket becomes aligned with
and in overlying registry with the hitch ball with the pivotal movement of
the inclined plate enabling the inclined plate to be released from the
ball and dropped downwardly to a position below the hitch ball thereby
enabling the ball socket to drop by gravity onto the hitch ball.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
A ball and socket hitch between a towing vehicle and a towed trailer which
is self-aligning and self-connecting. The hitch ball is provided with an
underlying base supporting an upstanding housing having rearwardly
diverging walls which guide the tongue on the towed vehicle to align the
ball socket on the tongue with the hitch ball. A slide plate is
operatively associated with the base and oriented in a vertically inclined
position and has a bifurcated forward end engaging the hitch ball. The
slide plate combined with the housing walls guides and lifts the tongue of
the towed vehicle upwardly into overlying, aligned relation to the hitch
ball. The slide plate pivots to a generally horizontal position as the
ball socket on the tongue moves into overlying aligned relation to the
hitch ball and then drops downwardly towards the base plate to enable the
ball socket to drop downwardly onto and thus be connected with the hitch
ball. The slide plate, housing walls, base and hitch ball have a unique
relationship by which the slide plate will guide and lift the tongue and
ball socket upwardly as the towing vehicle moves rearwardly toward the
tongue of the towed vehicle to elevate the ball socket above the hitch
ball with the housing walls aligning the tongue and ball socket with the
hitch ball with the slide plate then automatically dropping downwardly to
enable gravity to move the ball socket downwardly onto the hitch ball.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Various efforts have been made to align the components of an articulate
connection between a towing vehicle and a towed trailer and some efforts
have been made to not only align the hitch components but to elevate the
hitch component on the towed trailer to facilitate its engagement with the
hitch component on the towed vehicle. The following U.S. Pat. Nos. are
relevant to this invention.
4,657,275
4,903,978
3,773,356
1,626,993
3,747,958
4,417,748
4,840,392
4,226,438
4,871,184
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,657,275 and 4,903,978 provide an aligning structure for a
trailer hitch which includes a ramp to elevate the ball socket in relation
to the hitch ball. However, such devices include a ramp or inclined plate
which is automatically released to pivot downwardly in relation to the
ball hitch in response to the tongue on the towed vehicle engaging and
releasing a support leg or release arm to pivot or move it to a released
position to enable the ramp or inclined plate to pivot downwardly about a
transverse hinge axis thus enabling the trailer tongue and the ball socket
thereon to engage the hitch ball on the towed vehicle. However, the above
prior patents do not disclose a structure equivalent to this invention in
which the slide plate has a forward edge portion engaging and supported by
the hitch ball itself thereby eliminating the use of any support leg or
release arms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a self-aligning and
self-connecting ball and socket hitch assembly between a towing vehicle
and a towed trailer incorporating a guide structure for aligning a ball
socket with a hitch ball and a slide plate which elevates the ball socket
to a position above the hitch ball when the ball socket and hitch ball are
moved into alignment with the slide plate being pivoted to a generally
horizontal position by engagement of the trailer tongue therewith as the
ball socket aligns with the hitch ball with the slide plate then dropping
downwardly to a position below the hitch ball to enable the ball socket to
drop onto and thus be connected to the hitch ball.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hitch in accordance with
the preceding object in which the hitch ball is associated with a base
plate and an upstanding housing thereon having sidewalls which extend
upwardly and diverge rearwardly on opposite sides of the hitch ball to
guide the trailer tongue in a manner to align the hitch ball socket on the
trailer tongue with the hitch ball on the towing vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a hitch in accordance with
the preceding objects in which the slide plate is positioned in inclined
relation to the base plate and hitch ball with the forward end thereof
being bifurcated and curved to engage the opposed curved surfaces of the
hitch ball above the center thereof with the rearward end of the base
plate and slide plate being interconnected by hook-like connections which
enable the rearward end of the slide plate to pivot upwardly to a
generally horizontal position thereby enabling the bifurcated forward end
of the slide plate to release from the hitch ball and drop downwardly to a
generally horizontally disposed position below the hitch ball thereby
enabling the ball socket on the trailer tongue to drop downwardly onto and
thus become connected to the hitch ball.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a hitch in accordance
with the preceding objects with the slide plate including magnets to
retain the slide plate in position on the base plate during over-the-road
movement and the rearward edges of the housing including tabs associated
with side notches in the slide plate to further assist in retaining the
slide plate in position on the base plate when not in use.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals
refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hitch of the present invention.
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views of the self-aligning and
self-connecting hitch along section line 2--2 on FIG. 1 illustrating the
relationship of the components as the hitch ball on the towing vehicle
moves rearwardly toward the hitch ball socket on the towed trailer and
becomes connected thereto.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the hitch ball, base and housing.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the slide plate.
FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the orientation of the slide plate in
relation to the hitch ball, base plate and housing when the slide plate is
disengaged from the hitch ball.
FIG. 8 is a fragmental sectional view, on an enlarged scale, along section
line 8--8 on FIG. 1 illustrating the connection between the rearward edge
of the base plate and the rearward edge of the slide plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The self-aligning and self-connecting hitch of the present invention is
generally designated by reference numeral 10 and includes a conventional
hitch ball 12 of spherical configuration having a downwardly extending
threaded stem 14 provided with a retaining nut 16 for association with a
draw bar or bumper 18 of a towing vehicle with the threaded stem 14
extending downwardly through a longitudinally elongated slot-like opening
20 therein with the nut 16 securely retaining the hitch ball 12 in place.
The shape, size and construction of the hitch ball 12 is conventional and
no modifications whatsoever have been made in the hitch ball structure.
The hitch ball 12 is articulately connected to a hitch ball socket 22
mounted on the forward end of a towed trailer tongue 24 with the hitch
ball socket 22 forming part of an attachment bracket 26. A pivotal
latching structure 28 is associated with the hitch ball socket 22 in order
to lock the hitch ball socket 22 in connecting relation to the hitch ball
12 in a conventional and well known manner. When the towing vehicle is
separated from the towed vehicle, difficulties are frequently encountered
when the hitch components are to be reconnected. This usually requires
that the tongue of the towed vehicle be lifted upwardly in a manual manner
or by using some type of lift mechanism while the towed vehicle is
maneuvered to align the hitch ball with the socket. Frequently, it is
necessary for the operator of the towing vehicle or another individual to
manually move the hitch ball socket laterally to align it with the hitch
ball and/or lift the tongue and hitch ball socket to position it above the
hitch ball in order to connect the hitch between the towing vehicle and
towed trailer.
The present invention includes a base plate 30 positioned against the upper
surface of the bumper or draw bar 18 and provided with a slot-like opening
32 which receives the threaded stem 14 on the hitch ball thereby anchoring
the base plate 30 under the usual provided flange 34 at the upper end of
the threaded stem on the hitch ball 12. The base plate 30 includes a
housing generally designated by numeral 36 on the forward edges thereof
with the housing including a pair of rearwardly diverging side walls 38
which extend from the rearward edge of the base plate 30 to a forward edge
thereof with the two sidewalls being interconnected by a relatively short
frontwall 40 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The upper edges of the sidewalls 38
and 40 are provided with an outwardly and upwardly inclined flange 42. The
structure of the housing allows the hitch ball socket 22 on the trailer
tongue 24 to move forwardly with the angulation of the sidewalls 38
guiding the hitch ball socket 22 into alignment with the hitch ball 12
when the socket 22 is above ball 12. The sidewalls 38 also enable the
tongue of the trailer to swing laterally in the usual manner during
articulate movement of the towing vehicle in relation to the towed trailer
when moving in a curved path.
The hitch 10 includes a rigid slide plate 44 that generally is the same
shape as the rearward portion of the base plate 30. The slide plate 44 is
normally oriented in inclined position as shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the
rearward edge thereof being detachably connected with the rearward edge of
the base plate 30. This connection includes a pair of upturned tabs 46 on
the rearward edge of the base plate 30 which are spaced from each other to
opposite sides of the hitch ball 12. The tabs 46 curve upwardly for a
relatively short length and do not curve forwardly and thus do not form
hooks which permits the rearward edge of the slide plate 44 to rest on and
be supported by the upper surface of the tabs. The upward and rearward
slant of the tabs 46 enables the slide plate to pivot from the generally
inclined position of FIGS. 1-3 to a horizontal position by virtue of the
rearward edge of the slide plate 44 moving upwardly from its position
engaged with the upper surface of the tabs 46. The tabs 46 prevent the
bottom edge of the slide plate from moving rearwardly and downwardly in
relation to the base plate 30. To prevent the rearward edge of the slide
plate 44 from moving forwardly in relation to the rearward edge of the
base plate 30, the slide plate 44 has downwardly curved tabs 48 thereon
which are spaced from each other and oriented inwardly of the tabs 46 on
the base plate 30. The rearward edge of the base plate 30 between the tabs
46 include slightly upturned tabs 50 which engage the forwardly facing
surface of the tabs 48 on the slide plate 44 as illustrated in FIG. 8. The
tabs 46 are not in the form of reversely curved hooks and provide a
forwardly facing surface that is downwardly inclined slightly to the rear
as compared to the undersurface of the slide plate thus enabling the
rearward edge of the slide plate to swing upwardly but yet preventing the
rearward edge of the slide plate from migrating forwardly along the upper
surface of the base plate 30. Thus, when the slide plate 44 is positioned
in inclined position as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, engagement of the ball
socket 22 with the upper surface thereof will not move the rearward edge
of the slide plate 44 forwardly or rearwardly in relation to the base
plate in view of the cooperation of the tabs 46, tabs 48 and upturned tabs
50 on the base plate.
The forward edge portion of the slide plate 44 is provided with a notch 52
having parallel side edges which engage opposite surfaces of the hitch
ball 12 when in inclined position as illustrated in FIG. 2. The forward
side edge portions of the slide plate 44 are curved inwardly as at 54
which cooperate with the notch 52 to form a pair of forwardly projecting
leg portions 56. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the leg portions 56 curve
downwardly as at 54 and the free ends of the leg portions then are
inclined upwardly at 60. The upwardly inclined end portions 60 of the leg.
portions 56 are engaged by the forward edge 62 of the hitch ball socket 22
when it moves into overlying alignment with the hitch ball 60 thus
providing a camming action to pivot the slide plate 44 from the inclined
position illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 to a generally horizontal position by
causing the rearward edge of the slide plate 44 to swing upwardly which is
permitted by the particular construction of the tabs 46, 48 and 50. When
the slide plate 44 swings upwardly, it then is capable of falling by
gravity downwardly to a position against the upper surface of the base
plate 30 as illustrated in FIG. 4 thereby permitting the hitch ball socket
22 to move downwardly into connecting engagement with the hitch ball 12 as
illustrated in FIG. 4.
The undersurface of the leg portions 56 include magnets 64 which serve to
retain the slide plate in position against the upper surface of the base
plate 30 thus eliminating the necessity of removing the slide plate and
storing it for subsequent use. Also, the slide plate is provided with a
pair of laterally opening side notches 66 which cooperate with a pair of
rearwardly extending tabs 68 and 70 in the rearward edges of the side
walls 38 of the housing. As illustrated, the lowermost of the tabs 70 is
bent inwardly to a greater angle than the uppermost of the tabs 68 with
the notches 66 enabling the slide plate to move downwardly to a position
below the tabs with the longitudinal movement of the slide plate then
misaligning the notches with the tabs in order for them to assist in
retaining the slide plate in position against the upper surface of the
base plate 30.
Thus, in using the present invention, the slide plate 44 is positioned in
inclined position as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and the towing vehicle is
backed toward the ball hitch 22 on the tongue 24 of the towed trailer. The
sidewalls 38 of the housing 36 will guide the ball socket 22 into
alignment with the hitch ball 12 as the slide plate 44 elevates the ball
socket 22 thus not only aligning the socket with the ball but also
elevating the socket to a position above and aligned with the ball. As
this occurs, the slide plate 44 is pivoted to horizontal position and
drops below the ball 12 thus enabling the ball socket 22 to drop onto and
thus connect to the ball 12.
The hitch of the present invention works on the principle of an inclined
plane that is formed by the slide plate and the slide plate will
automatically pivot from its inclined position to a generally horizontal
position as the leading edge of the ball socket 22 engages the upwardly
curved terminal end surfaces 60 of the leg portions 56. This does not
occur until the ball socket 22 rides upwardly on the slide plate and
passes over the top of the hitch ball 12. Movement of the slide plate to
its horizontal position and disengagement of the rear edge thereof from
the rear edge of the base plate enables the slide plate to move in a
manner to disengage from the opposed surfaces of the hitch ball and drop
downwardly to a position against the base plate 30 as illustrated in FIG.
4 with the magnets retaining the slide plate in place along with the tabs
on the housing walls 38. Thus, the present invention does not require
removal of or storage of any separate components since the slide plate can
remain in place with the magnets and tabs holding the slide plate in
stored position against the upper surface of the base plate 30. The weight
of the trailer tongue at the ball socket 22 combined with the movement of
the slide plate from inclined position to horizontal position and the
capability of the slide plate then being movable after disconnection from
the base plate all cooperate to move the slide plate downwardly with
gravity causing the slide plate to drop downwardly below the ball socket
22 when the socket 22 is engaged with the ball 12. Thus, the hitch ball
and socket are automatically aligned and the socket 12 is automatically
lifted and aligned with the ball thus providing a self-aligning and
self-connecting hitch assembly.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,
and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be
resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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